Hibiscus 'Summer Storm' PP#20,443

What did we ever do before the Summerific™ series came along? Here at Wayside, we're thoroughly in love with these compact, super big-blooming Rose Mallows -- 'Summer Storm' and its friends, new 'Berrylicious,' 'Cranberry Crush,' and 'Jazzberry Jam'! After all, when you get a plant with an entirely new way of setting its blooms, that's really a garden event!

Older Rose Mallow varieties set their flowers on the end of stems, but the Summerifics™ bloom all along the stem, giving you many, many more flowers! And such blooms they are -- 'Summer Storm' knocks 'em dead with enormous 9- to 10-inch blooms of pale pink with rose veins and brilliant magenta center. The wide petals overlap freely, displaying delightful crinkling. Hummingbirds go nuts over these blooms . . . and so will you!

The other special feature of the Summerifics™ is their compact habit. 'Summer Storm' is just 4 to 5 feet high and slightly wider, so it's ideal for the foundation, along the driveway, in that tight space at the corner of the house, or even in a big tub on the patio!

Best of all, 'Summer Storm' offers deep purple to chocolate foliage! The previous Rose Mallow holding this distinction was 'Kopper King,' but 'Summer Storm' leaves that old favorite in the dust with huge, maple-like leaves that increase the number and size of their lobes with each passing year. Sunlight brings out the dark tones in this foliage, so it will go deeper and deeper in the heat of the summer!

The Summerific™ series was developed by our friends at Walters Gardens, and we have Clarence Falstad to thank for 'Summer Storm.' It's a pleasure to be able to integrate this native perennial into today's smaller garden spaces, and to enjoy so many, many more blooms than before!

Rose Mallow is a native perennial that loves lots of sunshine and good soil drainage. it's not a drought-tolerant plant -- oh, it will survive, but it won't thrive and bloom its best unless given consistent moisture. (Think Hydrangea when assessing its watering needs.) But it does tolerate poor soil, clay, sand, humidity, and many other stresses. Not to be confused with the shrub version of Hibiscus -- the Rose-of-Sharon -- Rose Mallow is an easy-care and long-lived deciduous perennial you'll treasure!

Expect 'Summer Storm' to bloom from midsummer well into fall, ceasing only when the temperature drops dramatically. You will love its huge blooms and low, dense habit. Give it a try this season! Zones 4-9.